Background Info
There are 6 species of lungfish spread around the world. Four of these species survive along the south west of the African continent; one species is from South America and the last species lives on the east coast of Australia. The South American and African lungfishes originate from the same order -Lepidosireniformes, but the Queensland lungfish comes from a different order - Ceratodontiformes. The species I chose to research is the Queensland lungfish (N. Forsteri).
The Queensland lungfish is also commonly known as the Australian lungfish, Barramunda and Djellah (Aboriginal name). It differs to the other species of lungfish in many forms. The most important variation between the lungfishes is that the Queensland lungfish has only a single lung, whilst the other 5 species have a pair. It is also naturally bulkier and grows to about 1.25m (on average). They are usually green-brown on their backs and sides; they sometimes have darker spots as well. Their stomachs are whitish or grey.
Habitat
The Queensland lungfish is mostly likely to be found in shallow pools of gentle freshwater in south eastern Queensland (as shown on the map). They have the amazing ability to breathe air, due to their single unique lung, as well as being able to breathe through their gills. This allows them to survive in extremely low and stagnant or low oxygenated waters during dry spells and difficult conditions. The Australian lungfish are located most commonly in the Mary River and Burnett systems, but recently they have distributed out to Stanley, Brisbane, Albert, Coomera and the Enoggera Reservoir.
Lungfish Distribution
This species is carnivorous; therefore there is usually a large variety of marine life in the surroundings. This lungfish is usually nocturnal and is much more active during the night when it goes searching for prey. In the wild, a common diet for a N. forsteri would include frogs, tadpoles, fish, small crustaceans, earthworms and occasionally plant material. As the lungfish larvae grow they will also nibble on algae as an addition to their diet. Recent study has shown that the Queensland lungfish has extremely poor eyesight and typically locates its prey through the use of electroreception. This is a special ability commonly found in aquatic creatures which allows animals to detect electric signals and sense any prey nearby.
Common Habitat of the Australian Lungfish
This endemic Australian lungfish requires a comfortable and protected area to leave the eggs to eventually hatch and fend for themselves. This is unlike the other species, which make a nest and stay to ensure the safety of the eggs. Once the lungfish have chosen a spot for spawning, it is very unlikely for them to change locations the following occasion. It is common for lungfishes to return to their previous spawning location and find that it has become unsuitable for laying eggs. The lungfish will then absorb the eggs back into their system and return every spawning season until it is impossible for them to reproduce. A perfect spawning site for the Australian lungfish would be the edge of a gentle stream with a water temperature between 18°C to 24°C and surrounded by mild vegetation with a depth of about 1 metre.
Adaptations
Q. Lungfish with labelled Adaptations
2 Structural · The Growth into a Carnivorous Fish: The Queensland lungfish is a carnivore, eating almost anything smaller than itself, including the young of its own species. This lungfish is also nocturnal and hunts its prey during the night, as well as many other aquatic creatures did during this time. That is why it is crucial to be the strongest and fastest. Over millions of years, the average lungfish grew much larger in length and body mass. The reason for this is that the big lungfish were rarely eaten, whilst the tiny lungfish were a stable part in many diets of the larger fish and sea creatures.
The environmental pressure which brought this adaptation about was the threat of being killed by stronger and more aggressive predators that roamed the water at night, much like the Lungfish.
· The Formation of a Single Fin: Another interesting adaptation is the slow formation of an individual fin. The Australian lungfish has only one fin, but its ancestors had the common dorsal, caudal and anal fin. Over time, lungfish fins changed until there was only one paddle-like fin. This single fin on an adult lungfish begins halfway down their back and continues around to where an anal fin would usually be located. This adaptation allows the Queensland lungfish to make sudden attacks on prey as well as rapid evasions from predators.
An environmental pressure which could have caused this adaptation is that the lungfish were threatened by the predators mentioned before, and without this special fin they would not have enough power to help them catch rapid swimming prey of their own.
2 Behavioural · Hunting at Night: The Australian lungfish has extremely poor eyesight, a great sense of smell and a special ability commonly found in a variety of fish called, electroreception. During the day it would usually be found sleeping in shallow rock crevasses and under logs. The Queensland lungfish is nocturnal and is much more active during the night. Only the lungfish with the behavioural adaptation to hunt at night survived, because they cannot be seen, whilst they have the advantage of smell and sensing other creatures with their electroreception.
The environmental pressure which may have influenced this behaviour is that the lungfish is much more vulnerable when swimming in broad daylight. This means that they are at a disadvantage and would most likely be the prey, instead of the predator.
· Attracting Attention: A behavioural adaptation which has affected the sexual/social life of the lungfish is the techniques used to attract the attention of a spawning partner during spawning seasons. Whilst lungfish are searching for a companion to mate with, they surface the water to breathe air much more often. When the Queensland lungfish breathes air, it is said that they make a sounds similar to a small bellows. Observations have said that the consistent breathing is a form of mating call. The male Australian lungfish tries many different actions to impress the possible mating partner. The male will often nudge the female softly with his snout and then wave small bits of aquatic plants to impress her.
An environmental pressure which may have caused this behavioural adaptation is that the female lungfish only chooses a male who shows off and gets her attention. With all of these behaviours performed the male and female will swim down through protected vegetation and eventually begin to spawn.
1 Physiological · Electroreception/Smell: The Queensland lungfish has little to almost no visibility, therefore it needs to make up for it with other senses. The natural habitat of the lungfish is usually full of vegetation, the lungfish also hunts during the night, and this adaptation gives them an advantage over other aquatic life. They have a very sensitive sense of smell, their smell organ is found on the roof of the mouth. This lungfish also has the amazing ability of electroreception. It allows them to feel the vibrations of passing prey. The Australian lungfish relies wholly on these to adaptation when hunting and over time, they have become much more sensitive and effective.
Environmental pressures which may have led to the lungfish forming two very essential sense organs are that with change in habitat – more vegetation, murky water and hunting at night – they needed some sort of ability to compensate for the lack of visual sight.
Queensland Lungfish (Modern)
Latin Name: Neoceratodus forsteriScientific Classification
Background Info
There are 6 species of lungfish spread around the world. Four of these species survive along the south west of the African continent; one species is from South America and the last species lives on the east coast of Australia. The South American and African lungfishes originate from the same order -Lepidosireniformes, but the Queensland lungfish comes from a different order - Ceratodontiformes. The species I chose to research is the Queensland lungfish (N. Forsteri).
The Queensland lungfish is also commonly known as the Australian lungfish, Barramunda and Djellah (Aboriginal name). It differs to the other species of lungfish in many forms. The most important variation between the lungfishes is that the Queensland lungfish has only a single lung, whilst the other 5 species have a pair. It is also naturally bulkier and grows to about 1.25m (on average). They are usually green-brown on their backs and sides; they sometimes have darker spots as well. Their stomachs are whitish or grey.
Habitat
The Queensland lungfish is mostly likely to be found in shallow pools of gentle freshwater in south eastern Queensland (as shown on the map). They have the amazing ability to breathe air, due to their single unique lung, as well as being able to breathe through their gills. This allows them to survive in extremely low and stagnant or low oxygenated waters during dry spells and difficult conditions. The Australian lungfish are located most commonly in the Mary River and Burnett systems, but recently they have distributed out to Stanley, Brisbane, Albert, Coomera and the Enoggera Reservoir.
This species is carnivorous; therefore there is usually a large variety of marine life in the surroundings. This lungfish is usually nocturnal and is much more active during the night when it goes searching for prey. In the wild, a common diet for a N. forsteri would include frogs, tadpoles, fish, small crustaceans, earthworms and occasionally plant material. As the lungfish larvae grow they will also nibble on algae as an addition to their diet. Recent study has shown that the Queensland lungfish has extremely poor eyesight and typically locates its prey through the use of electroreception. This is a special ability commonly found in aquatic creatures which allows animals to detect electric signals and sense any prey nearby.
This endemic Australian lungfish requires a comfortable and protected area to leave the eggs to eventually hatch and fend for themselves. This is unlike the other species, which make a nest and stay to ensure the safety of the eggs. Once the lungfish have chosen a spot for spawning, it is very unlikely for them to change locations the following occasion. It is common for lungfishes to return to their previous spawning location and find that it has become unsuitable for laying eggs. The lungfish will then absorb the eggs back into their system and return every spawning season until it is impossible for them to reproduce. A perfect spawning site for the Australian lungfish would be the edge of a gentle stream with a water temperature between 18°C to 24°C and surrounded by mild vegetation with a depth of about 1 metre.
Adaptations
2 Structural
· The Growth into a Carnivorous Fish: The Queensland lungfish is a carnivore, eating almost anything smaller than itself, including the young of its own species. This lungfish is also nocturnal and hunts its prey during the night, as well as many other aquatic creatures did during this time. That is why it is crucial to be the strongest and fastest. Over millions of years, the average lungfish grew much larger in length and body mass. The reason for this is that the big lungfish were rarely eaten, whilst the tiny lungfish were a stable part in many diets of the larger fish and sea creatures.
The environmental pressure which brought this adaptation about was the threat of being killed by stronger and more aggressive predators that roamed the water at night, much like the Lungfish.
· The Formation of a Single Fin: Another interesting adaptation is the slow formation of an individual fin. The Australian lungfish has only one fin, but its ancestors had the common dorsal, caudal and anal fin. Over time, lungfish fins changed until there was only one paddle-like fin. This single fin on an adult lungfish begins halfway down their back and continues around to where an anal fin would usually be located. This adaptation allows the Queensland lungfish to make sudden attacks on prey as well as rapid evasions from predators.
An environmental pressure which could have caused this adaptation is that the lungfish were threatened by the predators mentioned before, and without this special fin they would not have enough power to help them catch rapid swimming prey of their own.
2 Behavioural
· Hunting at Night: The Australian lungfish has extremely poor eyesight, a great sense of smell and a special ability commonly found in a variety of fish called, electroreception. During the day it would usually be found sleeping in shallow rock crevasses and under logs. The Queensland lungfish is nocturnal and is much more active during the night. Only the lungfish with the behavioural adaptation to hunt at night survived, because they cannot be seen, whilst they have the advantage of smell and sensing other creatures with their electroreception.
The environmental pressure which may have influenced this behaviour is that the lungfish is much more vulnerable when swimming in broad daylight. This means that they are at a disadvantage and would most likely be the prey, instead of the predator.
· Attracting Attention: A behavioural adaptation which has affected the sexual/social life of the lungfish is the techniques used to attract the attention of a spawning partner during spawning seasons. Whilst lungfish are searching for a companion to mate with, they surface the water to breathe air much more often. When the Queensland lungfish breathes air, it is said that they make a sounds similar to a small bellows. Observations have said that the consistent breathing is a form of mating call. The male Australian lungfish tries many different actions to impress the possible mating partner. The male will often nudge the female softly with his snout and then wave small bits of aquatic plants to impress her.
An environmental pressure which may have caused this behavioural adaptation is that the female lungfish only chooses a male who shows off and gets her attention. With all of these behaviours performed the male and female will swim down through protected vegetation and eventually begin to spawn.
1 Physiological
· Electroreception/Smell: The Queensland lungfish has little to almost no visibility, therefore it needs to make up for it with other senses. The natural habitat of the lungfish is usually full of vegetation, the lungfish also hunts during the night, and this adaptation gives them an advantage over other aquatic life. They have a very sensitive sense of smell, their smell organ is found on the roof of the mouth. This lungfish also has the amazing ability of electroreception. It allows them to feel the vibrations of passing prey. The Australian lungfish relies wholly on these to adaptation when hunting and over time, they have become much more sensitive and effective.
Environmental pressures which may have led to the lungfish forming two very essential sense organs are that with change in habitat – more vegetation, murky water and hunting at night – they needed some sort of ability to compensate for the lack of visual sight.
Referencing